The Typhoon 4K Asks, Can a Drone Be Too Much Fun?

There’s something of a learning curve with very good drones. First, you have to recognize that not every place is really is drone-suitable (NYC, for example, unless you’d like to donate a new toy to the NYPD). Second, you have to resist the urge to push the drone fast and far, just because you can (this becomes very hard when you’re handling a drone like the Typhoon 4K and you realize just how deceptively powerful it is). And third, you really, really need to cancel every plan you have the day you get that drone, because all you’re going to want to do is fly it.

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Before I had the opportunity to fly the Typhoon Q500 4K from Yuneec, I had only limited experience with drones, mostly confined to non-professional products, many even without a camera. But the simplicity of the Typhoon 4K is where it becomes tricky — the drone can be up in the air in three minutes after you free it from its lightweight aluminum case, and all of a sudden, you’re wielding an incredibly beautiful and insanely responsive drone, one that’s sending you previews of beautiful 4K images right to the remote control. You just want to do everything with that drone. You want to fly it as high and as fast as possible, watch as its camera steadily captures once-familiar terrain in beautiful HD quality, and run around your yard, using its ground-breaking (and slightly unsettling) “follow me” function. The power can be intoxicating. But one must remain sober-minded, at least for the first few hours of handling the drone (and this shouldn’t need to be said, but definitely don’t “drink & drone”). There’s so much beauty to the Typhoon 4K, that it should be experienced like a fine wine, savored, appreciated, before hastily pouring yourself another glass of this delicious drone.

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After an entire day spent flying the Typhoon 4K in bucolic western New York, I can honestly say this is one of the most mind-blowing products on the market today. The multicopter itself handles extremely well, even in high-wind situations, while the remote (marketed as a “ground station,”) has an easy-to-use set of controls, as well as a stunning touchscreen display streaming live video from the drone (one can also watch live video on their cell phone, because duh). The camera's steadiness, mixed with its high-definition capabilities, make for some awe-inspiring footage, while the battery life (up to 25 minutes, but the drone comes with two batteries), means you will rarely need to cut your day short on account of a charge.

Priced at $1,299.00, the Typhoon 4K isn’t the cheapest drone on the market, and it’s all the better for it. This is a serious work of art, and makes a perfect gift for anyone interested in the great heights that drone photography is going.